In 2016, Central Texas was walloped with another major flood, hitting many of the same neighborhoods as the devastating Memorial Day Weekend floods of 2015. I remember the day very clearly – so many God stories, it’s hard to write them all down. The day started off with dark black clouds, swirling wind, and heavy rains; I was heading to teach my morning class at UT Austin. Traffic was slowed to a crawl, and I was stranded on the S. 1st during three different tornado warnings – so blessed to be under the protection of the Almighty at times like that! I finally made it to my classroom, only to be told class was cancelled.
I immediately called over to ADRN to check if we would be deploying, and yes, we were in the preparatory phase of deployment! Since I lived on a hill, I figured my dogs and house were safe, and I could volunteer at ADRN headquarters that day. While we were on a leadership conference call, my neighbor texts me and tells me my house is about to flood, that waters are creeping into my front yard. Thank You Lord that ADRN is a place that knows the power of prayer! We interrupt the call to pray for the protection of my house from the flood waters. After the call, I have a neighbor keep me posted on the house – I get a call that the flood waters had literally stopped at the thresholds of my front and back patios, just prior to reaching the door. Psalm 91:9 “…’If you say the Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.”
Throughout the May 2016 floods, I served in Logistics and in the initial Planning. Logistics involves material and volunteer resources, so imagine loading up the trailers with supplies, setting up the site for Field Operations, ensuring all leaders were assigned volunteer administration support, processing field registration documentation, training volunteers on-site, and demobilizing everything at the end of our deployment. Imagine a plethora of tents, tools, equipment, signs that all need to be brought in from the field, accounted for, and stored for the next disaster. And now imagine doing all this in the rain, wind, and muck, being at headquarters at 5am to launch a day that won’t stop until 10 or 11pm.
Yeah!! I love it because it’s being the hands and feet of Christ, not only to the survivors who need those material supplies, but also to the volunteers so that they can have a smooth deployment.
Memorial Day Weekend Floods 2015
While I was out of the country for most of the Memorial Weekend Day floods, I did return to serve 2 weeks as chaplain in the HOPE Family Thrift Store, talking with and praying over survivors as they came in to get much-needed items including clothes, shoes, bedding, and hygiene supplies. How awesome to be able to come in with fresh energy to help survivors (and battle-weary volunteers) with the emotional release and disaster fatigue of such an epic flood! Isaiah 40:29,31 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Pictures on scene
…and from Memorial Day Weekend Flood 2015…
News Stories
ADRN helping victims from May 2016 flood